In last week's Growing Organically post - "what's not on the pricetag" - I referred to the idea of transparency where a company's raw materials and manufacturing processes are concerned. Given the need to brand and advertise one's business in today's market, you can be assured that a company will not be shy about letting you know if they ARE producing eco-friendly, green, sustainable products. Their message will be tailored to inform! Often, a company will seek outside certification from another entity to show the level of their compliance or to be more transparent to their customers.
This fantastic & informative video is produced by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is the standard I use for the production of my printed organic cotton fabric for Daisy Janie. It is the most comprehensive standard in the organic textile market, and the goal is to "provide transparency and product security so the seller knows what she is selling and the consumer knows what she is buying."
GOTS is recognized as the gold standard in certifications for organic textiles and products b/c of its breadth of coverage - they have left no stone unturned in considering the entire supply chain involved in production! Many other standards only look at the raw material or test for specific harmful chemicals in the final product, but none addresses and monitors the entire soup-to-nuts process like GOTS. *more detailed info in a future post
I have chosen the GOTS certification for Daisy Janie's organic fabrics because it is the only level of certification that matches my passion for doing as much as I can in the business realm I have chosen. Other standards leave too many loopholes for introducing toxic chemicals during processing, printing and finishing, or using abusive labor practices. Companies might still call their products organic, but it's not even close to being the same when you stop at the fiber. It's like saying you made organic pizza when the only organic ingredient in the pizza are the tomatoes in the sauce. ALL the ingredients and processes count - not just 1 or 2. I will not have the Daisy Janie name attached to something that isn't as all-inclusive and scrupulous as possible. I want to be able to hand over a beautiful piece of fabric to you, and say, "Here. This is the very best I could do to keep you, your loved ones, everyone else and Mother Nature free from harm." And I want to feel good about those words so you can feel good about your choice.
Transparency matters. Ask questions. Look for certifications.
More reading:
Global Organic Textile Standard / main website
GOTS, Organic Cotton & Other Links / Daisy Janie blog
Reasons to Love Daisy Janie's Organic Fabrics / Daisy Janie blog
